PROCEEDINGS

	IN THE CASE OF:  

	BOARD DATE:             11 August 1999                 
	DOCKET NUMBER:   AR1999015285

	I certify that hereinafter is recorded the true and complete record of the proceedings of the Army Board for Correction of Military Records in the case of the above-named individual.  

	Mr. Loren G. Harrell		Director	
	Mr. Paul A. Petty		Analyst	

  The following members, a quorum, were present:

	Mr. John H. Kern		Chairperson	
	Mr. Walter T. Morrison		Member	
	Mr. John P. Infante		Member	

	The applicant and counsel if any, did not appear before the Board.

	The Board considered the following evidence:

	Exhibit A - Application for correction of military 
                records
	Exhibit B - Military Personnel Records (including
	            advisory opinion, if any)

FINDINGS:

1.  The applicant has exhausted or the Board has waived the requirement for exhaustion of all administrative remedies afforded by existing law or regulations.

2.  The applicant requests that his DD form 214 be corrected to show his Sea Service while he was an Army Seaman and Watercraft Operator.

3.  The applicant states, in effect, that his DD Form 214 shows that he was a 61B10, Watercraft Operator, for 4 years 10 months and that his Sea Service should also show the same 4 years 10 months.

4.  The applicant’s military records show that that his Primary Military Occupational Specialty (PMOS) was changed from 11B10, Infantryman, to 61B10, Seaman, on 
27 March 1979.  He was certified as an Army Seaman, 61B10, on 5 April 1979, and certified as a Watercraft Operator, 61B10, on 23 April 1980.  He was promoted to Sergeant E-5, PMOS 61B20, on 7 July 1980. On 6 March 1981, he began advanced individual training for a new MOS 12E20, Atomic Demolition Munitions Specialist, and was awarded that MOS as his PMOS on 4 May 1981, with 61B20 being changed to the applicant's Secondary MOS (SMOS).  He reenlisted for the 12E20 PMOS on 12 May 1981.  Therefore, the applicant was awarded the 61B MOS as his PMOS from 27 March 1979 to 3 May 1981 or 2 years 1 month 7 days.  His DD Form 214, box 11, erroneously shows that he was awarded and served in 61B as his PMOS for 4 years 10 months.  Box 11 of the DD form 214 is to show only the number of years and months a soldier serves in a PMOS.

5.  Sea Service is defined as only that time a soldier is assigned to sea duty on a specific ship by orders, not the number of months of possession of a PMOS in a sea related MOS.  According to records maintained at the Office of the US Army Sea Pay Coordinator, Fort Eustis, the applicant was officially assigned to sea duty or sea service from 6 April 1979 to 30 March 1980, a period of 11 months 25 days.  From 
1-23 April 1980, the records indicate that the applicant went to Watercraft Operator School where he was issued a Watercraft Operator certificate on 23 April 1980.  After this schooling, he returned to LARC-15 duty.  On 7 July 1980, he was promoted to E-5, 61B20, Watercraft Operator, and assigned as a LARC-15 Crew Chief.  From 7 July 1980 to 30 November 1980, he served as a Crew Chief of an LARC-15 according to his record and NCOERs.  It is assumed from the record that the applicant would also have been on orders for sea duty or sea service from 
24 April to 30 November 1980.

6.  On 1 December 1980, the applicant went to Advanced Individual Training for MOS 12B, Combat Engineer, at Fort Leonard Wood.  The record indicates that he did not complete the 12B course as he returned to Fort Eustis on 12 December 1980 and was assigned as a 61B20, Amphibian Operator, until 25 February 1981.  His record does not show that he served as a crew chief, was assigned to a boat, or was assigned sea duty or sea service during these 2 months.

CONCLUSIONS:

1.  The applicant's DD Form 214 is in error in showing that the applicant held the PMOS of 61B for 4 years 10 months.  The correct period of time according to the record is 2 years 1 month.  The DD Form 214 should be corrected to show PMOS 61B20, Watercraft Operator, 2 years 1 month.  It should be noted that entries on 
DD Form 214 are subject to verification by the military records and are to be changed when data on the DD Form 214 is found in error.

2.  The applicant was given credit for sea service from 6 April 1979 to 30 March 1980.  Based on the above facts, he should also be given sea service credit from 
24 April 1980 to 30 November 1980 which includes the time that he was an 
LARC-15 crew chief, 7 July 1980 to 30 November 1980.  There is not enough evidence to give him sea service for the 2 months of 12 December 1980 to 
25 February 1981.  Therefore, his Sea Service entry on this DD Form 214 should show 1 year 4 months 19 days.

3.  In view of the foregoing, the applicant’s records should be corrected as recommended below.

RECOMMENDATION:

1.  That all of the Department of the Army records related to this case be corrected by:

	a.  correcting his DD Form 214 to show that he held his the PMOS 61B20, Watercraft Operator, for 2 years 1 month; and

	b.  showing on his DD Form 214 and in the records of the Office of the US Army Sea Pay Coordinator, Fort Eustis, that he was assigned sea service for 
1 year 4 months 19 days for the periods 6 April 1979 to 30 March 1980 and 
24 April 1980 to 30 November 1980.

2.  That so much of the application as is in excess of the foregoing be denied 

BOARD VOTE:  

__jhk___  _wtm____  _jpi_______  GRANT AS STATED IN RECOMMENDATION

________  ________  ________  GRANT FORMAL HEARING

________  ________  ________  DENY APPLICATION

		___John H. Kern__________________
		        CHAIRPERSON

INDEX

CASE ID	AR1999015285	
SUFFIX		
RECON	YYYYMMDD	
DATE BOARDED	19990811	
TYPE OF DISCHARGE	(HD, GD, UOTHC, UD, BCD, DD, UNCHAR)	
DATE OF DISCHARGE	YYYYMMDD	
DISCHARGE AUTHORITY	AR . . . . .  	
DISCHARGE REASON		
BOARD DECISION	GRANT	
REVIEW AUTHORITY		
ISSUES         1.		
2.		
3.		
4.		
5.		
6.